Device For Protecting the Head of a Dental Handpiece and Sealed Packaging For an Insert Equipped With Said Device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a protective device for dental equipment of the type composed mainly of a straight handpiece ( 3 ) or of a contra-angle, which are formed by a body enclosing a motor unit and/or members for transmitting movement and by a tool-holder head ( 1 ) bearing a tool ( 2 ), characterized in that the protective device is a sleeve ( 4 ) that has the general form of a glove finger, with an opening ( 6 ) at one end and a closed base ( 5 ) at the other end. 
     The invention also relates to a sealed packaging for an insert formed by a tool-holder head bearing the tool ( 2 ) and equipped with said protective device.

The present invention relates to a device for protecting the head of a dental handpiece.

It is an object of the invention to make available a simple and easy-to-use device for protecting the handpiece or contra-angle while carrying out work in the mouth.

Another object of the invention is to design a sterile package for an insert for a straight handpiece or contra-angle which, on the one hand, provides the dentist with sterilized and optionally disposable inserts and which, on the other hand, is used to safely fit the insert that it contains on the handpiece or contra-angle.

In the text that follows, insert will designate an assembly formed by a tool-holder head and by a periodontal tool, for example, mounted on the latter, this assembly being able to be engaged by screwing, snap-fitting or the like onto a handpiece or contra-angle.

These objects are achieved by the invention, which involves a device for protecting dental equipment of the type composed mainly of a straight handpiece or of a contra-angle, which are formed by a body enclosing a motor unit and/or members for transmitting movement and by a tool-holder head bearing a tool, characterized in that the protective device is a sleeve having the general form of a glove finger, with an opening at one end and a closed base at the other end.

The sleeve is preferably made of flexible material that can be rolled up on itself, or the sleeve is made of material that can be folded in accordion shape.

In its initial position, the sleeve is preferably compacted or rolled up externally on itself and can be placed on the distal end of the tool-holder head, its closed base being traversed by the tool, and, in the position of use, the sleeve is deployed or unrolled on the head and on at least part of the body of the handpiece or contra-angle.

The invention also relates to a disposable assembly for dental equipment, composed of an insert and of its sealed packaging, said packaging being formed by a package with an envelope of generally tubular shape, this envelope being dimensioned and open at one end in order to permit introduction of an insert equipped with a protective sleeve according to the invention.

At its distal end, the head of the insert preferably has an annular depression terminated by an annular bulge serving for the positioning of a bead formed by the rolled-up or compacted sleeve.

In addition, the external diameter of the bead of the rolled-up or compacted sleeve is such that said bead comes into contact with the inner wall of the envelope or with the bases of the ribs of said envelope, if the latter comprises such ribs, in such a way that the compacted sleeve transmits the forces of engagement of the insert or tool on the equipment. The forces are transmitted by the friction between the material of the sleeve and that of the packaging, this friction being able to be increased by surface shapes and/or surface states.

The packaging is preferably characterized by an envelope which is closed, at its end opposite the one with the collar, by a flat base and by at least one flat and hollow sheath, the inner cavity of which is able to receive the tool.

The invention will be better understood from the following description in which reference is made to the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a general view of a straight hand-piece on which is mounted an insert with curved curette, cited by way of example of a possible application of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a general view of the handpiece and of the insert from FIG. 1, depicting a protective sleeve according to the invention in the initial rolled-up position;

FIG. 3 shows a general view of the handpiece and of the insert from FIG. 1, with the protective sleeve unrolled to its full extent.

FIG. 4 shows a general view of a packaging design according to the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a general view of another packaging design according to the invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a front face, and longitudinal section according to BB, of the packaging design shown in FIG. 5.

By way of an example of the application of the invention, the figures show a disposable insert formed by a head (1) bearing a curved curette (2) mounted on a straight handpiece (3).

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the principle of the use of a protective sleeve (4) according to the invention, made of a flexible and rollable material, for example latex, the general form of which is that of a glove finger, with an opening (6) at one end and a closed base (5) at the other end.

In the initial position (FIG. 2), the sleeve is rolled up externally on itself and placed on the distal end of the tool-holder head, and its closed base (5) is traversed by the tool (2).

To make it easier to keep the rolled-up sleeve in place, the head (1) preferably has, at its distal end, an annular depression (7) terminated by an annular bulge (8) used for positioning the bead (9) formed by the rolled-up sleeve.

To protect the entire equipment during dental work, it suffices to unroll the sleeve along the head and body of the equipment, as is shown in FIG. 3. The unrolled sleeve preferably covers the entire length of the equipment and is held in place thereon by the elasticity of the material.

According to design variants not shown here, sleeves made of other materials with different modes of deployment and compacting can be provided, for example a sleeve that is folded in accordion shape in its initial compacted form and that can be unfolded along the length of the equipment.

The protective sleeve according to the invention can be supplied individually and the dentist can fit it, in its initial compacted form, onto any type of dental equipment, after which it is deployed along the length of said equipment in order to at least partially cover the latter, and at least the junction area between the head and the body of the equipment.

This protective sleeve is preferably compacted in its initial form and is engaged on the head of an insert, which is optionally disposable, the whole assembly being packaged and sterilized in a package (10) which is closed in a sealed manner by a cover (11).

The packaging (12) shown by way of example in FIG. 4 is composed of a package (10), preferably of transparent material, formed by an envelope (13) of generally tubular shape presenting longitudinal ribs (14) that make it easier to grip, this envelope being dimensioned and open at one end in order to permit introduction of an insert equipped with a protective sleeve compacted in the initial position, said end being bordered by a flat collar (15) on which a cover (11) for closing the cylindrical envelope (13) can be welded; said envelope also being closed at its other end on the one hand by a flat base (16) and on the other hand by a flat and hollow sheath (17), said sheath (17) being designed to receive the curette or any other tool (2) of the insert.

In the traditional manner, the cover (11) comprises a tab (18) that can be gripped in order to pull off said cover.

According to a design variant shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the envelope (13) is continued by three sheaths (17) arranged radially at 60° and serving as feet on which the package can be set down vertically with the cover at the top. They can also help for gripping and/or turning the packaging in order to screw or engage the insert on the contra-angle or handpiece.

The external diameter of the bead (9) of the rolled-up or compacted sleeve is preferably such that said bead comes into contact with the inner wall of the envelope (13) or with the bases of the ribs of said envelope, if the latter comprises such ribs, in such a way that the compacted sleeve ensures transmission of the forces of engagement of the insert or tool on the apparatus. This force transmission is achieved by the friction between the material of the sleeve and that of the packaging, this friction being able to be increased by surface forms and/or surface states.

The form of the package that has just been described is suitable for an insert bearing a curved tool and that can be fitted on a straight handpiece.

Of course, the principle of the packaging according to the invention can be transposed to inserts with a straight tool for contra-angles, by modifying the form of the package.

In all cases, the packages containing different types of tools are delivered in sterilized format to the dentist. The latter chooses the tool that is required, tears off the cover with one hand, while holding the package in the other hand, then screws or snap-fits the insert onto the equipment without touching it. The maneuver is therefore done without risk of contamination of the tool and without risk of injury to the dentist. 

1. A disposable assembly for dental equipment comprised of a straight handpiece or a contra-angle, said dental equipment being further comprised of a body enclosing a motor unit, members for transmitting movement, and a tool-holder head bearing a tool, the disposable assembly comprising: an insert; and sealed packaging, said sealed packaging being comprised of a package with an envelope of a generally tubular shape, said envelope being dimensioned and open at one end, said insert being introduced through said one end, said envelope being equipped at a distal end thereof with a protective sleeve compacted externally on itself with a closed base through which the tool passes, said one end of said envelope being bordered by a flat collar with a cover welded thereon.
 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert has a head with an annular depression terminated by an annular bulge at a distal end thereof, said protective sleeve forming a bead of the compacted sleeve, said bead being positioned by said annular bulge.
 3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said bead has an external diameter contacting an inner wall of said envelope or bases of ribs of said envelope, if said envelope comprises such ribs, said protective sleeve permitting transmission of forces of engagement of the insert or tool on the dental equipment.
 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said forces are transmitted by friction between material of the protective sleeve and the packaging, said friction being able to be increased by surface shapes or surface states or both.
 5. The assembly as claimed in 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of flexible material, being rollable up on itself.
 6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of a material, being foldable in an accordion shape.
 7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of latex.
 8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said envelope of said sealed packaging has one closed end and an opposite end comprised of a collar, said closed end being comprised of a flat base and at least one flat and hollow sheath, sheath having an inner cavity receiving the tool. 